Mayonnaise

Mayonnaise is an emulsified cold sauce made from egg yolks, vegetable oil, vinegar or lemon juice, and salt. Its base is a stable oil-in-water emulsion held together by the lecithins found in egg yolks. It has a creamy, rich flavour with a gentle tanginess. In the kitchen it is one of the world's most widely used condiments, serving as a base for dressings, dips, tartare sauce, and as an ingredient in salads, spreads, sandwiches and burgers. It also flavours potato salads and warm dishes. Homemade mayonnaise has a noticeably fuller flavour than commercial varieties, but a shorter shelf life.